Ruler



Jan. 13,1927, 1,614,812

R. TRANE ET AL RULER Filed ADI-i1 24 1925 4/ j 2? gnoantow Que: nu,

Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

umrao .ST'ATEVS PA TENT AOFFF'IC'JE.

RAYMOND rmn,or omanamnnnasxa, Ann CLARENCE rrnayvm, or cannon.

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RULER.

Application filed April 24, 1925. Serial 'No.'25,652.

Our invention relates to a simple attachment in connection with a ruler, a straight edge, a T-square or other similar devices which areadaptedto'be predeterminedly located and. temporarily held in this position, one of the objects of our invention residing in an effective finger operated yieldable member, which not only causes a uniform pressure to be applied to the device, but it looks it to prevent its accidental movement or displacement while the line is being ruled. The scope of our invention extends to whatever construction may be defined by or included within the terms or language of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a ruler embodying our invention;

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail View illustrating one of the gripping points and Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the resilient wire.

Our invention, in the form or embodiment shown in the drawing and briefly described, comprises a ruler or straight edge, 10, which is provided substantially along its axis with a longitudinally extending and relatively narrow slot, 11, and forming a support for the resilient member, 12, of substantially the same width as is the slot, 11. Extending outwardly from each end of the slot, 11, and adjacent to the upper surface of the ruler, 10, is a relatively short groove, 13, and a downwardly extending opening, 14, which communicates with the extreme end of each of the grooves, 13.

\Vith particular reference to Figures 2 and 5, the member, 12, is preferably constructed of a single piece of resilient wire, which is formed in its approximate center with a substantially circular and horizontally disposed ring portion, 15, for the purpose of serving as a pressure member, which is operated by a finger of the operator. forms the ring, 15, is bent as at 16, extends radially to within the approximate center of the ring, and again bent downwardly, forming a pair of leg portions, 17, which are in turn, again bent as at 18, from which points the wire is extended in opposite di- The wire which rections, forming a pair of arms, 19. The extreme end of each of the arms, 19, is provided with a downwardly extending and angularlybent portion, 20, which is pointed atitsextreme end-so that-it-may be readily driven into its respective opening, 14, formed in the ruler, 10.

Each leg, 19, is provided in its approximate center thereof with a downwardly bent substantially semi-circular portion, 21, for the purpose of preventing the twisting of the legs, 19, within the slot, 11, and for supporting the downwardly projecting prongs or gripping points, 22. The novel manner of forming the gripping oints, 22, from the body of the semi-circu ar bent portion, 21, is clearly illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawing, although this result may be obtained in other ways.

In practice, the points, 22, may be spaced from the lower edge of the ruler or straight edge, 10, a sufficient distance which would permit a slight depression upon the finger ring, 15, before the points, 22, would protrude 'throught the slot, 11. In this manner, the ruler would be yieldingly held down as for a temporary location, and when it is desired to maintain this location a further downward pressure is exerted upon the ring, 15, sufliciently to cause the points, 22, to puncture the paper (not shown).

lVe have found it desirable to cover the ring, 15, with a covering of celluloid upon which various printing may be done, as for advertising purposes, or a button may be used to produce the same effect.

We claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising a support having a longitudinally extending and relatively narrow slot, a resilient member snugly fitted within the slot and provided with a plurality of gripping points, a unitary finger gripping member for causing the depression of said resilient member, each end of the resilient memher being provided with an angularly bent portion for securing it to said support.

2. In a ruler formed with a longitudinallyranging slot opening through the upper and lower surfaces thereof, a resilient member fitted for movement within said slot and terminally secured to the ruler beyond the ends of the slot, said member being formed with piercing points projecting from its lower surface, the resiliency of the member normally holding such points above the lower surface of the ruler while permitting operative projection of the points on pressure on the member and means for exerting pressure on the member.

3. A ruler formed with a longitudinally extending slot, a resilient member arranged in said slot and terminally secured to the ruler beyond the ends of the slot, a pressure element carried by the member and dis posed above the upper surface of the ruler, and gripping points carried by the member and normally housed within the slot above the lower surface of the ruler but adapted to be projected into gripping relation with a surface upon pressure being exerted upon said element. 7

4. Aruler having a longitudinally extending slot, a spring member arranged in the slot and terminally secured to the ruler beyond the ends of the slot, the Walls of the slot guiding theanember in movement, a section carried by the member for depressing the same in the slot, and gripping points carried by and projecting below the member to be moved below the lower surface oft-he ruler on depression of the member, said point-s being normally above the lower surface of the ruler.

RAYMOND TRANE.

CLARENCE T. BRElVER. 

